How Motherhood is an Example of a Powerful Ministry

Motherhood is an example of a way we serve God. I want to encourage you with truths about how motherhood is an example of a powerful ministry and how your hard work is for the Lord.

When I became pregnant, I quit schooling for my master’s degree in social work. I realized that it was not something I was passionate about. I wanted to serve God differently. The problem was, I had no idea what that looked like. I struggled with my decision of quitting school for some time. There was relief that I did not have to go into that field, but I was still searching for a way to serve God. It wasn’t until my baby was about 9 months old, that I realized I was serving God. I did have a little ministry. This ministry was in my home. It is the most important ministry in this phase of life and I was making a lasting difference in my children.  

Why Motherhood is an Example of a Powerful Ministry- Obeying God’s Commands  

Ministry simply means serving God. It does not have to mean that we are flying across the world to serve others. While that is an example of ministry, so is your motherhood and home; Here is how your powerful motherhood is an example of ministry.

God tells us to multiply: Genesis 1:28

We are serving God by obeying this command. God tells us in Genesis 1:28, Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it.

The Lord tells us to make and raise babies. There is a question I hear often and that is, “Why should I have more kids when this world is full of hate and is a scary world to live in? My answer to that is that God tells us to multiply. We need to have children to raise to continue to bring light into this dark world. As moms, we need to fill our children with the truth of the word and they will spread it. Our role as moms is to instill God’s words in the heart and raise them to be respectful and loving. God has the rest. We must surrender our children to Him and He will protect and guide their hearts. 

God tells us to make disciples: Matthew 28:18-20

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus tells his followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” This is the great commission.

Jesus tells us to make disciples. We simply do this as mothers by teaching our kids the characteristics of God. It is also by telling them who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are. Our children see us fulfill this commission through how we live our lives by His word and his commands. It is healthy for them to see us rely on God when we fall short of His commands.

This is what Matthew is teaching us by saying we need to baptize disciples. This simply means we need to teach our children to repent when they sin and be washed in the new life. It means teaching our kids that is it okay to make mistakes and that we will disobey and disappoint God. Unfortunately, that is just a natural part of life since the fall. However, it is vital to teach them how to repent of those mistakes and teach them how to submit back to God.

God tells us to train up our children

Proverbs 22:6 is an example of the biblical role of parents in a child’s life.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

Train up a child. God is telling us that our role as parents is to train our children. The word train could mean many things to one person. To me, it means to teach them about God’s love. Teach them how Jesus loved. To be respectful, kind, patient, and polite as much as possible.

It also means training my children how to turn to God when they are having a hard time. I want them to find how they connect with God. The goal is for them to form a solid foundation while in the home. My hope is that children find their own faith and build their lives on that to form that solid foundation. Their faith needs to be theirs. My job is to teach them about Jesus and to show them an example of what it is like to live with Jesus. My hope is that they fix their eyes on the kingdom of God, and in doing so, help the world where help is needed.

In the way he should go. I absolutely love this part of the verse. It is implying that each individual child is different. God has given each child a unique set of qualities, desires, and gifts. Our job as mothers is to seek out those unique qualities and train that child accordingly. Maybe one child loves to read, so that child can sit and read bible stories and have a literal quiet time with the Lord. Maybe one is super active and they would do better riding a bike and talking out loud with the Lord. Each child is so unique and we need to seek out those talents and react accordingly. 

Even when he is old he will not depart from it. This is my end goal as a parent. I want my children to leave the house with their own relationship with God, a solid foundation in their identity, and a solid foundation in who God is. Then, they will not depart from it. This does not mean they will not have difficult times. It is a natural part of life to struggle at times. In fact, it is essential for their faith journey to struggle in life and have big questions for God. It will strengthen and grow their relationship, but I want them to know how to handle it and what the right thing to do is.  

Meaningful Ways to Minister Through Motherhood

Now that we looked into God’s word to see how our home is a ministry and how we are following God’s commands, what does that look like in our everyday lives? If motherhood is an example of ministry, how do we live that out? It may seem like our schedule is too busy to think about ministering to our children. Our multitude of tasks feels like it takes up all of our time. However, I want you to know that everything you do in your day-to-day is impacting your children. Some of the tasks that you already do are ministry. Find those vital opportunities to minister to them too! 

Powerful Prayer.

One way to minister and love our children is to pray over them. The prayers do not have to be long. They do not have to be complex or profound. Speak from your heart to the Lord; that is what matters. When you are in the car, pray over them. When putting them to sleep, you can pray with them. You may pray for their hearts, minds, and souls. God hears you. While you get in the habit of praying over them, try to include them in the prayer. Teach them how to pray. This is one way to train up your child as it says in Proverbs. They are learning how to pray from you! It is a blessing to be a part of their spiritual growth and it is amazing to watch them learn who God is. 

Nurture

We feed and bathe our children. This may not seem like an example of ministering, but nurturing our children is a way of obeying God. We are taking care of who God gave us. Through our care for our children, we are showing them how to love. We are loving unconditionally, showing them the love of Christ. 

Intentional Family Time.

Jesus spent time with His disciples. He taught them and answered their questions with a question in order to teach them more. A very vital part of our ministry is to spend time with our children. It may seem like we have little time with our busy schedule, but time with our children is important. Eye-to-eye contact and communication are essential to our relationship with our children. They trust us and they can feel how much we love them. Sitting and playing blocks with them, puzzles, or riding a bike are mundane moments, but they are important. We are showing them love and companionship. This also will open doors for them to trust you completely. This leads to opportunities for them to ask you tough questions. They will feel that they can go to you and that you are in a safe space. 

Conclusion on How Motherhood is an Example of a Powerful Ministry

Motherhood is a ministry. We are living out the characteristics of God to our children and obeying God’s commands; To multiply, make disciples, and teach them about Jesus, and to train up our children. As mothers, we are showing the love of Jesus to our families. We are giving practical teachings of biblical wisdom to our young children so that they can be trained up for when they leave our home. We are praying over them, nurturing them, and spending quality time with our children. They will be equipped with the armor of the Lord and be ready to take on the world when they leave our homes. Know that you are running an important and special ministry.

My Encouragement to Moms

As young moms, we oftentimes find that our day-to-day life feels mundane. It feels like we are not doing much. However, your motherhood is an example of a powerful, vital ministry. You are running a full-time, around-the-clock, ministry. You’re ministering to your own children and those in your home. I encourage you not to do this alone. Make sure you are in God’s word. We need to be adding to our own personal growth before we can give to our children. Small groups are wonderful for this. Try to find a small group through your church where the couples are in the same stage of life. Lean on each other for biblical guidance and practical help. The most important thing in your mission of motherhood is taking care of yourself and growing with God before you can properly raise your children. 

Finally, know that God is leading you. He wants what is best for you and your family. Lean on him and do not forget to talk with him. Talk with him about your worries, your struggles, and your successes.

For more about worry, please check out my post about surrendering your worries to God, and how/why to surrender your children to him.